Andrew Madar
Professor Frank
English 1030-044
September 8, 2014
The Connection Between Architecture and Authorship
Authorship entails much more than just the creation of novels and short stories. In fact, the term authorship isn’t limited to words on a screen or piece of paper as many people believe it to be. After reading the first few chapters of Everyone’s an Author, it became clear that just about every profession has some authorship in it, including architecture. Architects use personal styles and techniques to express who they are and create buildings that convey a certain message. In traditional Christian architecture, the architects would often shape the church building to look like a cross whereas many mosques include the design of towers. There are many different styles of architecture that come from different time periods and revolve around specific institutions. The art of architecture and its’ rhetorical aspects can be found throughout these specific institutions.
Authorship and rhetoric are both involved in virtually every profession too some degree. Every job involves the employees trying to persuade either customers, the general public and or their bosses that the work they are doing is excellent. From waiters trying to persuade customers to buy more food to a financial adviser trying to convince a client that he is working in their best interest. As with all professions, possibly even more so, architecture involves the architects, who are designing the structures, being creative in how they design buildings. “As we have seen there are architects that give the same importance to the construction of imagination as well as to the construction of the real world, the design as well as in the building itself,” (Siamopoulos 59). This statement reflects how architects are equally thinking about how to make the physical aspects of the construction as smooth and safe as possible while also being concerned with their personal touch in the design. “The architectural design is part of architecture, and the architect is criticized by it. For this reason the design itself can constitute itself a work of art, thus the design process and the design intention is important,” (Siamopoulos 63). In his analysis of the art of architecture, Siamopoulos mostly covers how art in architecture is not in the final result, but rather the intention of the design or the creation of the ideas for a project is where true art lies. This point of view can be tied back to the original idea that the design and building of physical structures, or architecture, is a form of authorship. When architects are in the stage of designing the building, they have the complete ability to be unique in how they design it in a way that reflects who they are and what they want the building to represent. So the art that lies in the design phase is reflected in the final product as well. With that said, all architects have their own personal style, technique, and signature aspects to their buildings.
I found it most evident that architects are trying to convey a message to the public when I visited the campus of the University of Virginia. The buildings gave off an aura of high quality education and world class discipline. These things are certainly reflected in the reputation of the University as one of the higher ranking institutions in the country. The architecture there was influenced heavily by Thomas Jefferson and it is reflected in the final product of the buildings. Thomas Jefferson was a high ranking politician and well respected man and it seems that the University’s buildings and campus in general reflect a sense of who he was. Of course that is not the only well-known institution that has a unique style and presence surrounding its campus. In her article about the architecture of Harvard, Colleen Walsh describes how the architecture of the University has developed over time and how the addition of each set of buildings reflects a certain aspect of the University. “The tight-knit closeness of the University’s structures, the breadth of their styles, the pocket greenery, and the bustling, untamed public square at Harvard’s core make it an unusual campus, one where faculty and students have to interact regularly,” (Walsh). This shows how pieces of authorship and rhetoric can be found outside of words on a paper. The architects have created this atmosphere with their stamps of authorship and are using their artwork as a unit of influence or persuasion, also known as rhetoric. The campus of Harvard has developed widely since its founding. “Over time, the college that was founded on the edge of the American wilderness has adapted to suit its growth and new academic needs,” (Walsh). As the University has grown, so have the academic expectations and it is shown through the updates in the structure of the campus to a more academic friendly environment. This proves how architecture, especially the design and layout of the buildings, has a profound influence over other institutions such as the academic world.
The academic institutions, specifically universities, are just one example of the many different places in which architecture has an influence over how people behave in specific settings. Other institutions in which the design of the buildings influences a specific behavior include religions, governments and art museums. Architects put a, sometimes subconscious, stamp on their work through the design of the buildings and their personal style for the process. The art of architecture is one form of authorship that will never die with time. People are always looking to design, improve and build above the preexisting conditions in an attempt to create a more suitable environment for the setting.
Works Cited:
Lunsford, Andrea A., Michal Brody, Lisa Ede, Beverly J. Moss, Carole C. Papper, and Keith Walters. Everyone's an Author. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.
Siamopoulos, Eleherios. "Authorship in Algorithmic Architecture: From Peter Eisenman to Patrik Schumacher." Academia.edu. Ed. Vassilios Ganiatas and Kari Jormakka. NTUA School of Architecture, Oct. 2012. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.
Walsh, Colleen. "The Art of Architecture." Harvard Gazette. Harvard Gazette, 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.
Professor Frank
English 1030-044
September 8, 2014
The Connection Between Architecture and Authorship
Authorship entails much more than just the creation of novels and short stories. In fact, the term authorship isn’t limited to words on a screen or piece of paper as many people believe it to be. After reading the first few chapters of Everyone’s an Author, it became clear that just about every profession has some authorship in it, including architecture. Architects use personal styles and techniques to express who they are and create buildings that convey a certain message. In traditional Christian architecture, the architects would often shape the church building to look like a cross whereas many mosques include the design of towers. There are many different styles of architecture that come from different time periods and revolve around specific institutions. The art of architecture and its’ rhetorical aspects can be found throughout these specific institutions.
Authorship and rhetoric are both involved in virtually every profession too some degree. Every job involves the employees trying to persuade either customers, the general public and or their bosses that the work they are doing is excellent. From waiters trying to persuade customers to buy more food to a financial adviser trying to convince a client that he is working in their best interest. As with all professions, possibly even more so, architecture involves the architects, who are designing the structures, being creative in how they design buildings. “As we have seen there are architects that give the same importance to the construction of imagination as well as to the construction of the real world, the design as well as in the building itself,” (Siamopoulos 59). This statement reflects how architects are equally thinking about how to make the physical aspects of the construction as smooth and safe as possible while also being concerned with their personal touch in the design. “The architectural design is part of architecture, and the architect is criticized by it. For this reason the design itself can constitute itself a work of art, thus the design process and the design intention is important,” (Siamopoulos 63). In his analysis of the art of architecture, Siamopoulos mostly covers how art in architecture is not in the final result, but rather the intention of the design or the creation of the ideas for a project is where true art lies. This point of view can be tied back to the original idea that the design and building of physical structures, or architecture, is a form of authorship. When architects are in the stage of designing the building, they have the complete ability to be unique in how they design it in a way that reflects who they are and what they want the building to represent. So the art that lies in the design phase is reflected in the final product as well. With that said, all architects have their own personal style, technique, and signature aspects to their buildings.
I found it most evident that architects are trying to convey a message to the public when I visited the campus of the University of Virginia. The buildings gave off an aura of high quality education and world class discipline. These things are certainly reflected in the reputation of the University as one of the higher ranking institutions in the country. The architecture there was influenced heavily by Thomas Jefferson and it is reflected in the final product of the buildings. Thomas Jefferson was a high ranking politician and well respected man and it seems that the University’s buildings and campus in general reflect a sense of who he was. Of course that is not the only well-known institution that has a unique style and presence surrounding its campus. In her article about the architecture of Harvard, Colleen Walsh describes how the architecture of the University has developed over time and how the addition of each set of buildings reflects a certain aspect of the University. “The tight-knit closeness of the University’s structures, the breadth of their styles, the pocket greenery, and the bustling, untamed public square at Harvard’s core make it an unusual campus, one where faculty and students have to interact regularly,” (Walsh). This shows how pieces of authorship and rhetoric can be found outside of words on a paper. The architects have created this atmosphere with their stamps of authorship and are using their artwork as a unit of influence or persuasion, also known as rhetoric. The campus of Harvard has developed widely since its founding. “Over time, the college that was founded on the edge of the American wilderness has adapted to suit its growth and new academic needs,” (Walsh). As the University has grown, so have the academic expectations and it is shown through the updates in the structure of the campus to a more academic friendly environment. This proves how architecture, especially the design and layout of the buildings, has a profound influence over other institutions such as the academic world.
The academic institutions, specifically universities, are just one example of the many different places in which architecture has an influence over how people behave in specific settings. Other institutions in which the design of the buildings influences a specific behavior include religions, governments and art museums. Architects put a, sometimes subconscious, stamp on their work through the design of the buildings and their personal style for the process. The art of architecture is one form of authorship that will never die with time. People are always looking to design, improve and build above the preexisting conditions in an attempt to create a more suitable environment for the setting.
Works Cited:
Lunsford, Andrea A., Michal Brody, Lisa Ede, Beverly J. Moss, Carole C. Papper, and Keith Walters. Everyone's an Author. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.
Siamopoulos, Eleherios. "Authorship in Algorithmic Architecture: From Peter Eisenman to Patrik Schumacher." Academia.edu. Ed. Vassilios Ganiatas and Kari Jormakka. NTUA School of Architecture, Oct. 2012. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.
Walsh, Colleen. "The Art of Architecture." Harvard Gazette. Harvard Gazette, 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.